Anamorphic Shooting is Coming to Your GoPro with the New Letus AnamorphX-GP Adapter

Some of you might already be asking why anyone would want this, but really you should be asking why this didn't happen sooner. All joking aside, there are some cool side effects and very real benefits to this new GoPro 1.33X Anamorphic Adapter from Letus. They've already introduced an adapter for DSLRs and other large sensor cameras, and now they're taking things to the miniature level with the new AnamorphX-GP, which will essentially turn your 16:9 GoPro footage into a much wider 2.39 aspect ratio with a simple de-squeeze in post. Check out more below.

Use the GoPro 3+ waterproof housing for mounting. The adapter replaces the waterproof lens housing element. The unit will retain waterproof property.

In 1080 mode, when the Letus AnamorphX-GP is attached, it will convert the 16:9 aspect ratio into 2.39:1 aspect ratio without the need for cropping (post production de-squeeze is required).

In super-view mode the GoPro records in 4:3 aspect ratio and digitally stretch the image into 16:9 aspect ratio (dynamic stretching: http://gopro.com/support/articles/what-is-superview). The center of the image is kept same but the outer of the image is progressively stretched outward and that is what causes the distortion, especially on the edges. This is why GoPro does not recommend shooting people on the edges in superview mode for the distortion will make people on the side look much fatter than they really are. When use with the Letus AnamorphX-GP, the extra 1.33 field of view will then create a 16:9 image that compensate for this digital stretch. As a result, the GoPro in super-view mode with Letus AnamorphX-GP yields a true 16:9 image where you can see people (objects) on the edges to have a more normal aspect (not stretched). You can use the 16:9 images in superview mode with the Letus AnamorphX-GP adapter as is and will not need to be de-squeezed in post.

It's unclear right now if this will work perfectly with the regular HERO3, but since both cameras are the same size and GoPro makes the skeleton housing that can fit the HERO3 and the HERO3+, it seems like it could be a possibility. Certainly there are many more regular HERO3s than Plus models out there right now, so it's a far bigger market if you can take advantage of either camera. Right now though it should safely work with the Plus, and I imagine the new lens on that model should give you slightly better results with this adapter.

An interesting use of this adapter besides giving you 2.35 from the normal 16:9 image is actually with the new mode on the HERO3+ that lets you use the full height of the sensor. While the current setup digitally squeezes the 4:3 into a 16:9 frame, if you use the Letus Anamorphic adapter, you should actually get a true 16:9 image without the typical distortion. You then won't have to squeeze this image in post because the camera is already putting the 4:3 into a 16:9 frame.

Some photos of the adapter:

And you can see how it compares size-wise to the current anamorphic:

There is no footage or release date as of yet (apparently it's coming relatively soon), but you can see what the first large sensor AnamorphX adapter can do in this clip from Jack Yan Chen:

http://vimeo.com/77113293

The current AnamorphX adapter begins around $2,000 for a usable setup, and while that may be a tough pill to swallow unless you're using it a lot, the new adapter for the HERO3+ is only going to set you back $200 -- bringing it in line with lots of other accessories for the camera.

I am not sure if I just got a bad unit. But we tested it with 25 different lenses all within the recommended focal range on 3 separate cameras Red Epic, FS700, 5D Mark III. We a wide variety of tests set up but failed. Using lenses that span the categories from L series still lenses to Zeiss CP2 set, as well as the Canon Cine primes. I was in the process of writing a review on the Anamorphx. And found the deeper we got the less reviewable it became. Inconsistent warp throughout the lens and then their was all sorts of weird bokeh cut.

I am currently in the process of returning the item. And just saving towards Iscoramas or Just keep renting for various projects as budgets can afford.

Has anyone else seen any consistent or good results?

My experience so far I would NOT use this for any personal or paying client project.

Nathan, I for one would be very interested in seeing that review. I know that there's a lot of people considering this adapter over on the reduser forums, but there isn't much info out there yet. Some people are happy with it, but others, such as yourself, are not. I haven't found anything definitive...

I think we got a bad unit, so it became pointless to review. And with projects picking up at the first part of the new year i won't have the time. Hence the scheduling of the review and why we bought it to test it out.

Ahem check this out http://fstoppers.com/megalapse-the-gopro-hack-for-shooting-long-timelapses
haven't tried it myself
but pointing this to someone with some technical know how might figure out functions that arent apperent

This should work with both the Hero 3 and 3+. It seems it only works with the 3+ housing, which can be purchased and will fit the original Hero 3. It makes sense as anyone with the Hero 3+ housing will notice the screws are on the inside of the housing and can screw into the anamorphic. The only difference in the unit itself that may cause it to work only with the Hero 3+ is the focus setting of the lens is different. There are many videos about this, but basically for GoPro to claim the new Hero 3+ has a sharper lens than the Hero 3, they just set the focus to 5ft to 6ft from the sensor rather than infinity. I know that focusing with anamorphic lenses can be problematic, so maybe that would be a reason. The lens on both the Hero 3 and 3+ are M12 lenses, so you can adjust the focus by screwing it in or out. Of course, this voids the warranty, but people are doing this and even switching out the lenses with different M12 focal ranges for different fields-of-view.

If you are cheap, you can use two pieces of gaff tape to keep the lens in place. it should work equally well with a GP3+ case with a battery door and a bit of foam to keep the GP3 firmly pushed forward.

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